Wednesday, May 7, 2008

According to the Calvert Group, an investment management firm, and the Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment, homebuilder KBHome is the builder adhering most closely to green building concepts. Although none of the builders studied are fully green, Centex, Pulte and Lennar were each singled out for specific items. From a BuilderOnline.com story:

KB Home ranks first among the largest public builders in terms of sustainability in the areas of energy, water, timber, and land use, according to a joint report released today by Calvert Group, an investment management firm, and the Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment.

But the report, which looked at builders' policies, programs, and performance in the areas above, also found that none of the firms qualified as fully green. "Of the 13 major home builders, only six had explicit commitments to environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, water conservation, or responsible land management, and no company published a comprehensive sustainability report," it stated.

On a regional basis, however, builders looked a little better. The report specifically cited Centex for its marketing of Energy Star-rated homes in California and Nevada, Pulte for its energy efficiency efforts in the West, and Lennar for its use of solar technology in California.